CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Full Blooded Hanyou
Kagome, Miroku, Sango, Shippou, Kirara, Oni, and Kouga all looked down at the giant crater that had been made by Inuyasha's attack. In the center of the crater there were two figures.... one was Naraku, standing tall but with a look of horror on his face........ and the other was a Inuyasha bearing down on his enemy using the tessaiga. Naraku had used his tentacles to block the hanyou's attack, but something was different about his enemy. Inuyasha's strength had maybe tripled or quadrpuled, and there were dark demon scars on either side of his face. His nails and claws had also grown and seemed razor sharp. Yet his eyes... they remained golden and bright.
"I will protect them!!"
'What is this? This can't be Inuyasha's transformed self... When his demon blood takes over he loses control, but he seems to be very conscious of his actions.'
Using all of his strength to push Inuyasha, Naraku heaved and got the hanyou to fly back just enough for him to set up his barrier again. The transformed hanyou flipped backwards, pushed himself off of a boulder that turned into rubble as he kicked off of it, and lunged once more at his adversary. Using a speed that Naraku had never seen before, Inuyasha slashed once with the red tessaiga and then three times with the kaze no kizu in rapid motion. The shear power of the blast threw everyone watching backwards off their feet. Naraku in particular flew out of the crater and landed hard on the ground.
'This one is no joke.... I must move now.' Using his shouki, Naraku blasted off towards the skies, but the transformed Inuyasha was already closing in behind him.
"Cursed hanyou!" Naraku shot a tentacle at his persuer, but he dodged it easily. "Keh! It'll take more than that to stop me Naraku!"
"But how much will it take to end the life of your dear Kagome?"
Inuyasha's eyes opened wide with shock and he turned around to see the tentacle headed straight for his beloved who was lying unconsious on the ground for some reason.
"KAGOME!" With a true demon's speed Inuyasha turned back and threw himself in the path of the tentacle. A searing pain coarsed through his body as the tentacle passed through his upper left shoulder and threatened to go straight through him and into Kagome. Putting up his right hand, Inuyasha pushed back against the poisonous tentacle, forcing it to stay in his body. "Kagome...... she's safe."
As soon as he said that there was only one thing left to do. He braced himself for another attack, knowing that Naraku would use this time to his advantage.
Naraku smirked and thought about returning to finish the job, but he was in terrible condition from Inuyasha's attack. He changed his mind further when the hiraikotsu, covered in Miokru's scrolls, shot through his barrier and slashed at his mid section. In his current position anyone of Inuyasha's comrades could defeat him.
"Remember what I said you dirty hanyou..... I will hunt you all to your deaths!" Then Naraku was gone. He dissappeared into the shouki.
Kagome's eyes fluttered open to find a half dead Inuyasha staring at her, stroking the spot where she had a nasty bump on her head. "Inu...ya...sha" he put a finger on her lips and kept her from getting up. She had taken a hard hit and was supposed to be resting. Oni had just dusted herself off and was helping everyone when Kouga jumped out from under a large pile of debris. "What the hells's the matter with you you stupid mutt!!! Using an attack like that when Kagome's so close!!! You could have gotten her killed!! Are you listening to me??!!" He raised his hand to give Inuyasha a good beating, but a low growl stopped him in his tracks. Inuyasha had been sitting indian style with his back to Kouga and Kagome's head on his lap, but Kouga could sense the aura coming off of him. The growl intensified as he stood up. When he turned around, he was back to his old self. The scars on his face were gone and his claws and fangs were back to normal size.
"Everyone ok?" Inuyasha's friends were dumbfounded at the sound of his voice. He sounded mature and serious. Only Oni responded with a smile and a nod. Kouga however, had turned his back on Inuyasha and folded his arms across his chest. "Everybody's fine dog breath!! It's your fault anyway, causing all of that rucus and almost killing Kag....." again the low pitched growl caught Kouga in the chest. It seemed that Kagome was a very touchy subject for Inuyasha at the moment.
"Inuyasha-sama, what was that just now?" Miroku asked as he watched Oni reduce Kagome's bump with the tip of her finger. Inuyasha looked down and said nothing. He didn't know what it was, but it was gone now.
"I don't know. But the point is that everyone's fine. Now come on! Let's get going!!" Kagome stood up, rubbing her head a bit and ran over to Inuyasha.
"Are you ok? What happened? Where did he get you?" Kagome frantically ran her hands through Inuyasha's back, apparently searching for something. When she found what she was looking for Inuyasha winced in pain. "Here it is, Oni chan?" Kagome called out to Oni who was quickly by her side inspecting the nasty wound.
"It looks like the tentacle is still inside. No problem. Hold still Inuyasha-sama."
Inuyasha was surprised. He had thought that Kagome was passed out when Naraku hit him.
"There we go, all better. You really should be more careful Inuyasha-sama." Oni smiled at Inuyasha pleasently and then walked over to Kouga. "Are you hurt Kouga-kun? Let me have a look." Kouga leaned away from Oni. "You know I hate when someone else heals me. Get away. I'll heal myself."
Miroku walked over and took a look at Kouga. He was looking interestedly at Kouga's wounds. "Hmmmm... If I'm right, these wounds will take days to heal, even for a demon. Kouga, you should let Oni-san take care of that." Again Kouga leaned away. " I don't need it! I'm fine!"
"Dammit wimpy wolf!! Every second that you waste crying and licking your wounds is time that you give Naraku to get away!! Your wounds will take time to heal and time is something that you don't have!! Now let her heal you or I'll kill you myself!!" Inuyasha turned away and crossed his arms. Apparently he had turned back into his own self.
"Inuyasha..." Kagome was standing next to him. "What happened to you back there?" Again Inuyasha said nothing.
"I already asked him that Kagome-sama, but he doesn't seem to know."
"Stupid mutt, always in the dark about everything." Kouga laughed and then flinched as Oni jabbed a finger into one of his cuts. "Oops, sorry." She smiled evily at the wolf demon.
When everything was situated and everyone was back in Oni's cave, Inuyasha explained what Naraku had told him.
(FLASHBACK)
"Damn you! Answer me!"
"It seems that you're still thirsty for knowledge. Very well. You wish to know why I have come for you..... for years you and your companions have hunted me down, hindering my plans to take the jewel shards and interfefeering with my plands to become the strongest demon in Japan. But now I have decided to become the hunter. I will track you and your friends down to the brink of your deaths. I will kill you all and then I will absorb your pathetic powers."
(END FLASHBACK)
Everyone looked serious as Inuyasha finished reliving the moment for them.
"Well, he's obviously lying!!" Kouga blurted out before anyone else could put in an opinion.
"How do you figure Kouga-kun?" Kagome asked since she was also confused about what Naraku had said.
"What Naraku was after was mutt face over here. I noticed it when he didn't try to stop Oni. She was the bait to bring this moron back. Also, Naraku was moving away from me and dodging me alot, buying time for dog breath to get here. And it would also expalin the barrier that only he could get in to."
"So you're completely useless then." Inuyasha remarked from his perch by the entrance.
"What was that? You'd better watch your mouth mutt, I still haven't forgiven you for putting Kagome in danger!" Inuyasha bowed his head and stared at the ground.
'It's true. I've been putting her in danger ever since the last battle with Naraku.... maybe I should.....'
"You have no right to say that Kouga-kun. Kagome-chan wouldn't even be here if Inuyasha-sama hadn't rescued her. Besides, I recall a certain someone that ran away from Naraku when Inuyasha-sama stayed behind." Oni was on her feet and pointing an accusatory finger at Kouga.
"The hell I ran away!! I went looking for Kagome! Dog breath over said that she was close by and knowing her she probably wanted to help this flea bag!!"
"And it's your decision as to who she helps?" Oni shot back. Kouga stared at her with an undying hatred in his eyes. Hatred towards the mutt that his woman was being forced to help. It wasn't until he got close to Kagome though that Inuyasha reacted.
"Kagome, you tell me right now.... do you want me to leave you here with the mutt or do you want to come with me where you'll be safe...." as Kouga bent down to place a hand on Kagome a growl came from the entrance. Everyone turned in surpreise. Inuyasha stood up slowly from his kneeling position by the door and turned to the wolf demon. His silver hair flowed behind him and caught a glimmer of the evening sun. His fangs were bared and his back was arched. It was the very first time that Inuyasha's friends had ever seen him furious. Usually he yelled and scolded, but this image of the hanyou was powerful and majestic. He seemed to glow with fury as he crossed the cave towards Kouga.
"Listen up you," his voice was deep and dangerous, "I've had about enough of your nagging. Leave Kagome alone and don't pressure her to make choices that she's already made," the tessaiga on Inuyasha's hip began to shake violently, " it's up to her to stay or leave, I've never forced her to do anything." tessaiga stopped shaking and was now sending out a pulse to Inuyasha, Miroku noticed that Inuyasha's eyes were turning a slight shade of pink, " so leave her alone and never try to touch her again."
"And what if I do mutt?" Miroku placed a hand on Kouga's arm. "Kouga-kun, I think it best that you back off now." Kouga shook free of the monk's grip and stepped closer to the upset hanyou, whose eyes were now a more noticable red. "Why should I be afraid of this half-demon."
A growl came from Inuyasha, but this time it was much more powerful and disturbing.
"Yeah, I think it's about time to get rid of you dog breath." with that said Kouga made to jab at Inuyasha, but he only managed to hit the air where the hanyou had been standing. He looked sideways and saw Inuyasha standing there, his blade pulsing madly and his long claws of steel flexing before his blood red eyes.
"This is a fight you can't win wimpy wolf... leave me alone." Kouga scoffed at Inuyasha's warning and made another attempt to attack him. Only this time he took a fist to the chest which threw him across the room.
"Stop it Kouga!" Kagome ran and stood in front of Inuyasha. "Can't you see that he's fighting to keep the demon blood inside of him from waking up?!"
Kagome turned to Inuyasha and put her head on his chest. "It's ok Inuyasha, there's no need for you to fight... you know where my feelings lie..... with you." Inuyasha stared into Kagome's brown merciful eyes. He could feel his anger subsiding and his temper dropping. He felt peace and serenity as he continued to stare into his Kagome's eyes without saying a word........
.......that is, until a fist connected with his face and sent him into a wall.
"Don't get your stink all over her mutt!!"
Inuyasha stood up and jumped back in Kouga's face. "What the hell was that for you wimpy wolf??"
"Inuyasha, don't you remember anything about what just happened?" Miroku stepped over to Inuyasha.
"I remember sitting at the entrance and listening to this jerk shoot his mouth off about how Naraku is after me. I don't remember much after that. Why?"
Miroku looked worriedly at Kagome, "Then the warning came from...."
"...his demon form." Sango finished the sentence. 'was that's why his voice was different?' Sango pondered on this for a moment.
"Of course, "Miroku broke in, " Since Inuyasha has shown signs of maturity, so has the demon blood inside of him."
"And what the hell does that mean?" Inuyasha stared at the monk as if he'd just been insulted.
"Anyway, I think it's time for us to head off. Oni-sama, thank you for the medical help as well as the shelter. We'll be on our way now." Miroku and Sango walked out of the cave. Inuyasha stared after them. "Weirdos.... huh?" Kagome was looking at him with a smile on her face. "And what's your problem?"
"Nothing. We should get going. Bye Oni-chan!" she waved and left behind her comrades closely followed by Shippou and Kirara. Inuyasha looked confused. He turned to Oni, the one person in the room that he could talk to now. "Did I just miss something?" Oni simply smiled. "You should hurry or your friends will leave without you." Inuyasha stared at the entrance and noticed that his companions were already gone. "Hey guys!! Thanks for everyhing Oni. See ya! Oy, aren't you guys forgetting someone??!!" Inuyasha bounded out the entrance, leaving only Oni and Kouga behind. Kouga looked pale.
"Come on prince of wolves, I'll make you something to eat before you starve. You must've had a rough time with Naraku. This feast will be my thanks." Kouga perked up and followed Oni deeper into the cave, ranting on about how it was childsplay for a demon like him.
Miroku and Sango walked ahead of the group deep in conversation.
"Miroku-sama, why do you think Inuyasha reacted the way he did? Don't you find it strange?"
"A bit, but it's not difficult to explain."
"Eh?"
"You see, Kouga has never seriously threatened to take Kagome away from Inuyasha until now. Feeling like a very important part of him was about to be stripped away, Inuyasha began to transform. If I remember correctly, Inuyasha turns into a full demon when his life is threatened and he doesn't have his tessaiga. Since he felt his life slipping away from him and there was no reason to use tessaiga on such a weak demon, Inuyasha transformed. It's also why I was in a hurry to leave. You know as well as I athat all Kouga and Inuyasha ever do is argue. Had this gotten eny worse Inuyasha might hae transformed even faster."
"Wow... you thought about this alot, didn't you."
Miroku stopped. He quickly grabbed Sango's hand. "My dear Sango, it's the same thing with you. I know that if you were to slip away from me I'd lose it."
Sango didn't know how to react............. but soon found the words to express herself when she felt Miroku's other hand on her backside.
"Damn Pervert!"
She dropped her hiraikotsu squarely on Miroku's head and kept walking. Behind her walked her companions, all with smiles on their faces except for the dazed monk.